My father has been a member of his parish church for 30 odd years, since moving down to England. He goes a few times a week and is very involved (alter serving, helping with the collection etc). My sister and I attended the attached school (just a brief history to try and outline how much the church means to him)
Anyway, the priest that's been there for the past year or so has changed things, and possibly a bit drastically. I thought I'd get some broad opinions as he's reluctant to raise issues further (although from talking with fellow parishioners he knows he's not alone in how he feels)
All the service times have been changed, which in itself is fine but it's to allow his sermons to go over an hour and a half or so, which, I guess is down to personal opinion if you find that to long but he's now trying to stop the attached schools Sunday football league as it means the children were leaving a few mins early to get to their games. As this is part of a league, the school itself can't dictate the match times so would have to withdraw. I find this really sad as these kids are still making the effort to go to church, and it's not their fault that the extended service times mean they have to leave early.
Also, he's banned all talking in the church before the service begins. Obviously I can see his point in it allows for quiet prayer, but it's not like people where shouting and screaming. for a lot of elderly people, it's the only time they see their friends and now, they're not really allowed to acknowledge them while find a seat.
What's bought this all up, is I was talking to my father and he was saying how pleasant mass had been as the priest is away for a few weeks, and he can talking to his friends before the service begins. I think it's so sad that he doesn't generally enjoy something that he usually gets so much out of. He's in his 70's and church is really his only thing (no golf or anything like that)
There are quite a few other similar points, but I've already gone on to long, and quite a few people have changed churches already.
My sister was saying that there are plently of other churches of this denomination that my father can attend, but it seems sad that he has to leave all his friends because this priest is bulldozing through with his authoritarian approach. I know church is about prayer, but it used to be so much more inclusive, and much more of a joyful place. He actually sits in the pews before mass to discipline people for talking!